Dielectric relaxation of DNA aqueous solutions

We report on a detailed characterization of complex dielectric response of Na-DNA aqueous solutions by means of low-frequency dielectric spectroscopy (40 Hz - 110 MHz). Results reveal two broad relaxation modes of strength 20<\Delta\epsilon_LF<100 and 5<\Delta\epsilon_HF<20, centered at 0.5 kHz<\nu_LF<70 kHz and 0.1 MHz<\nu_HF<15 MHz. The characteristic length scale of the LF process, 50<L_LF<750nm, scales with DNA concentration as c_DNA^{-0.29\pm0.04} and is independent of the ionic strength in the low added salt regime. Conversely, the measured length scale of the LF process does not vary with DNA concentration but depends on the ionic strength of the added salt as I_s^{-1} in the high added salt regime. On the other hand, the characteristic length scale of the HF process, 3<L_HF<50 nm, varyes with DNA concentration as c_DNA^{-0.5} for intermediate and large DNA concentrations. At low DNA concentrations and in the low added salt limit the characteristic length scale of the HF process scales as c_DNA^{-0.33}. We put these results in perspective regarding the integrity of the double stranded form of DNA at low salt conditions as well as regarding the role of different types of counterions in different regimes of dielectric dispersion. We argue that the free DNA counterions are primarily active in the HF relaxation, while the condensed counterions play a role only in the LF relaxation. We also suggest theoretical interpretations for all these length scales in the whole regime of DNA and salt concentrations and discuss their ramifications and limitations.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

The Croatian Health Survey – Patient\u27s Satisfaction with Medical Service in Primary Health Care in Croatia

The aim of the study was to investigate patient satisfaction with nurses and general practice organization in Croatia. A total of 2,252 patients 18 years of age and over from 47 randomly selected general practices were included in the study. 72.1% of patients were satisfied with nurses and general practice organization. Older and less educated patients were generally more satisfied. Patients were more pleased with nurses’ behavior (81.9%) than with practice organization (62.3%). Factor analysis revealed two underlying discriminates of patient satisfaction – »positive attitude towards the nurse« and »inaccessibility of practice«. The former discriminate emphasized a great potential of nursing, which should be taken into consideration in the transformation of health care system in Croatia

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DYNAMICS OF TERMINAL SPROUT IN PROVENANCE TRIALS OF SILVER FIR (ABIES ALBA MILL.) OF PLANTS IN CROATIA

Jedna od najvrijednijih vrsta četinjača u Hrvatskoj je obična jela (Abies alba Mill.) koja zajedno s bukvom i smrekom raste na približno 150 000 ha šuma Like i Gorskoga Kotara na kojima se preborno gospodari. Prva istraživanja uspijevanja različitih provenijencija obične jele u Hrvatskoj započela su sakupljanjem sjemena u jesen 1994. godine. Sakupljeni su uzorci sjemena iz 18 priznatih i izabranih sjemenskih sastojina u Hrvatskoj i u dvije slovenske sjemenske sastojine, te je osnovan rani test provenijencija u rasadniku šumarskog instituta, Jastrebarsko. U svrhu daljnjih istraživanja na području Uprave šuma Podružnica Delnice, Šumarija Fužine, lokalitet Brloško, tijekom 2000. godine i u rasadniku Instituta 2001. godine osnovani su poljski pokusi. U radu su prikazani rezultati istraživanja rasta terminalnog izbojka biljaka starosti osam godina. Prosječni prirast biljaka u pokusu "A-polje" u 2002. iznosio je 45,1 mm, a na pokusu provenijencija "Brloško" 156,8 mm. Analizom varijance utvrđeno je postojanje statistički značajnih razlika između provenijencija u dinamici njihova rasta.One of the most valuable conifer tree species in Croatia is Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). Growing mostly in Lika and Gorski kotar region in pure or mixed with beech and spruce stands it covers area of approximately 150 000 ha, managed using tree selection system. First research on growth of different provenances of silver fir in Croatia begun with seed collection in the autumn of 1994. Collected were seeds from 18 Recognized Seed Stands in Croatia and two from Slovenia and an early provenance test was established in the nursery of Forest Research Institute. Further research involved establishment of field trial in the year 2000 at the locality Brloško on the territory of Forest Management Unit Delnice, Forestry Office Fužine, and in the year 2001 on the Forest Research Institute in Jastrebarsko. In this paper we present results of the research of growth of terminal sprout on fir seedlings aged eight years. Average height increment in the year 2002 for the plants in "A-Field" provenance trial was 45.1 mm, while for the provenance trial "Brloško" average height increment amounted to 156.8 mm. Analysis of variance showed that statistically significant difference exists in growth dynamics of different provenances

Ventilatory capacity and intradermal skin tests in cotton workers

Kronični respiratorni simptomi, respiratorne bolesti, ventilacijske funkcije i alergijski kožni testovi promatrani su u skupini od 112 radnika zaposlenih u preradi pamuka. Učestalost pojave kroničnih respiratornih simptoma i bolesti bila je veća u eksponiranih nego u radnika kontrolne skupine premda su razlike bile statistički značajne samo za kronični kašalj, katar nosa i bisinozu u žena te za kronični kašalj, kronični iskašljaj i bisinozu u muškaraca. Bisinoza je registrirana u sličnoj prevalenciji u žena (29,4%) i u muškaraca (29,5%). U ispitivanih tekstilnih radnika pretežno se radilo o bisinozi stupnja 1/2 (žene 22,1 %, muškarci 20,5%). Rezultati ventilacijskih testova pokazuju tijekom radne smjene statistički značajne akutne redukcije forsiranog vitalnog kapaciteta (FVK) i forsiranog ekspiratornog volumena u prvoj sekundi (FEV1). U muškaraca su utvrđene nešto niže izmjerene vrijednosti testova u odnosu na normalne očekivane vrijednosti. Mali broj radnika reagirao je na alergen pamuka (eksponirani 8,2%, kontrola 1,8%). Naši rezultati pokazuju da ekspozicija prašini pamuka može dovesti do pojave respiratornih simptoma i bolesti te do akutnih promjena funkcionalnih testova ventilacije, ali bez alergijske reakcije.Ventilatory capacity, chronic respiratory symptoms and respiratory diseases as well as intradermal skin tests were registered in a group of 112 cotton workers. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and respiratory diseases was higher among the exposed than among control workers although the differences were statistically significant only for chronic cough, nasal catarrh and byssinosis in women and for chronic cough, chronic phlegm and byssinosis in men. A similar prevalence of byssinosis was noted in women (29.4%) and in men (29.5%). Among textile workers mostly byssinosis grade 1/2 was found (women 22.l %, men 20.5%). There were statistically significant acute reductions over work shift for forced vital capacity (FVC) and one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1). In men the values were somewhat lower than the expected normal values. A very small number of workers demonstrated positive intradermal skin tests to cotton allergen (exposed 8.2%, control 1.8%). Our data indicate that exposure to cotton dust may lead to the development of respiratory symptoms and diseases as well as to acute changes in ventilatory capacity but without an allergic reaction

Genealogical Structuring of a Population

The study observed population of 484 generation restrictive genealogies collected in four Croatian regions during 1970/71 within »The study of fat and carbohydrate metabolism indicators correlated with the occurrence of diabetes in animal fat and oil consuming population groups«. The genealogies were collected on two islands (Bra~ and Hvar) and in two continental regions (Sinjska Krajina and Srijem). Genealogy Structure Index (GSI) was defined as quantitative indicator of genealogy structure. GSI was continuos variable which, by its extreme, describes vertical and horizontal type of genealogy structure, independently of the way genealogies were collected. Genealogy structure of surveyed population was described on the basis of participation of different genealogy types. Populations of the island Hvar and Bra~ showed to have horizontal genealogy type, continental population of Sinjska Krajina showed to have mixed type and continental population of Srijem showed to have vertical type of genealogy structure

The genetic structure and sustainability of autochthonous cattle breeds in Croatia

Prepoznavanje i potvrđivanje autohtonosti pasmine temeljna je odrednica u njenom očuvanju, budući da se na njoj temelji kontinuitet logike uzgojnog rada kojim se gubitak genetske osobitosti nastoji svesti na najmanju mjeru. Razložno je činiti redoviti osvrt na minuli uzgojni rad na autohtonim pasminama kako bi uočili manjkavosti u pogledu genetske ali i ekonomske održivosti. Analizirano je stanje genetske strukture i održivosti dvaju hrvatskih autohtonih pasmina goveda koje su više od desetljeća u žiži znanstvenog i šireg interesa. Istarsko govedo samo je dijelom konsolidirano u genetskom pogledu, uz još uvijek nejasnu uzgojnu strategiju u pogledu dostupnih linija i majčinskih rodova. Procijenjena razina uzgoj u srodstvu istarskog goveda na temelju rodoslovlja umjerene je razine (0,0175), no broj i distribucija linija ukazuju na potrebu pažljivije provedbe uzgojnog programa. Razina uzgoja u srodstvu (izračunata na temelju rodoslovlja) slavonsko srijemskog podolca (0,0186) ukazuje na sustavan selekcijski rad, no brojno stanje populacije i distribucija grla ukazuju na postojeću ozbiljnost situacije. Uzgajivačima nezadovoljavajuća visina novčanih poticaja, uz nerazvijene programe gospodarskog korištenja, dovode u pitanje i fizičku održivost populacije u aktivnom in situ programu očuvanja.Recognizing and affirmation of autochthonism are basic points protection breeds, whereas is ground of continuity of breeding work which loss genetic rarity reduces to minimum. Necessary is seems the routine overview over the breeding work on autochthonous breeds in order to notice inadequacies in view of genetic and also economic sustainability. Has been analyzed genetic structure and sustainability of two autochthonous cattle breeds which are more than decades in center scientific and wider interest. The Istrian cattle has been partly consolidated in the genetic sight, beside still is unclear breeding strategy with regard to the accessible lineages. Has been estimated the level inbreeding of Istrian cattle on the basis of pedigree data is moderate level (0,0175), but the number and distribution of lineages suggest the needs of more careful implementation breeding program. Levels of inbreeding (calculated on the basis of pedigree) Slavonian syrmian podolian cattle (0,0186) points to the systematic selection work, but numerical situation of populations and distribution of herds suggest on the existing seriousness situations. Breeders unsatisfactory heights of financial stimulus, by undeveloped programs of economic use, call in question too physical sustainability populations the in situ program preservations

Breeding systematization of autochthonous horse breed Croatia posavac

Hrvatski posavac je autohtona pasmina konja. Uzgojno područje je prostor Sisačko-moslavačke i dijelom Zagrebačke županije. U cilju dobivanja više podataka o uzgoju kako bi se uzgojni program što uspješnije provodio u 2004. godini započeta je sistematizacija uzgoja hrvatskog posavca. U formiranje rodova u obzir su uzeta isključivo umatičena (žigovana) ženska grla. Rezultat sistematizacije je formiranje 726 rodova kobila s velikom varijacijom u broju kobila prema rodu (2 do 37). Brojno najveći rod kobila s 37 grla je P97, dok je čak 265 rodova brojilo samo 2 kobile. Prosječna veličina progenih grupa umatičenih kobila prema pastuhu iznosila je 9,4 s rasponom varijacije od 1 do 61 kobile kćerke. Kao očevi umatičenih kobila pojavljuju se 484 pastuha, od kojih je 228 umatičenih (20%) a 256 pastuha očeva poznato je samo po imenu (22%). Bez poznatog porijekla po očevoj strani umatičeno je 655 kobila (58 %).Croatian posavac is autochthonous horse breed. Breeding area is the area of the Sisačko-moslavačka county and a part of Zagrebačka county. With a goal of getting more data about breeding so that the breeding program would be successfully conducted, in 2004 the breeding systematization of autochthonous horse breed Croatian posavac has begun. In the line forming, only registered females were taken into consideration. The result of systematization is forming of 726 female lines with great variation in the numbers of mares by the line (2 to 37). Numerously biggest mare line with 37 heads is P97, while even 265 lines counts only 2 mares. The average size of progeny groups of registrated mares by the stallion was 9,4 with variation range from 1 to 61 mare daughter. As the sires of registrated mares there were 484 stallions, from which 228 were registrated (20%) and 256 sires were known only by the name (22%). 655 mares (58%) were registrated wihtout known ancestry by father side